Snap Judgments: MLB Game of the Week (Nationals-Mets, 06.15.17)

It might not be exactly like death and taxes, but Gio Gonzalez twirling a masterpiece at Citi Field is almost guaranteed, as he improved to 10-1 in his career at the ball park after tossing a seven-inning gem on Thursday. (Robert Cole/ALOST)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez delivers a warm-up pitch before the bottom of the first inning during a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets second baseman T.J. Rivera takes a pitch from Gio Gonzalez (not pictured) during the bottom of the second inning in a Major League Baseball game played at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets second baseman T.J. Rivera gets ready to make contact on a pitch from Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez (not pictured) that would eventually be a single to left field during the bottom of the second inning in a Major League Baseball game at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda spins out of the way of a pitch from Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez (not pictured) during the bottom of the second inning of a Major League Baseball game at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals catcher Matt Wieters (l.) fields a ball in front of pitcher Gio Gonzalez during the bottom of the second inning of a Major League Baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes takes his position before the start of the top of the third inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes throws a ball around the infield before the start of the top of the third inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets pitcher Robert Gsellman delivers a pitch during the top of the third inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets third baseman Wilmer Flores throws to first base to retire Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner (not pictured) during the of top of the third inning of a Major League Baseball game at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets second baseman T.J. Rivera throws to first base to retire Washington Nationals left fielder Brian Goodwin (not pictured) during the of top of the third inning of a Major League Baseball game at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper takes off his batting gloves as he heads to first base after drawing a walk during the of top of the third inning of a Major League Baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman takes a pitch during the of top of the third inning of a Major League Baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman heads to first base after drawing a walk during the of top of the third inning of a Major League Baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper runs towards home as he tries to score on a single by teammate Daniel Murphy (not pictured) during the of top of the third inning of a Major League Baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (l.) is tagged out at home by New York Mets catcher Rene Rivera to end the of top of the third inning of a Major League Baseball game at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper is called out at home by home plate umpire Brian Gorman to end the top of the third inning in a Major League Baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets catcher Rene Rivera points towards center field after he applied the tag to retire Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (background) at home during the top of the third inning in a Major League Baseball game at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets pitcher Robert Gsellman runs down the first-base line after laying down a bunt during the bottom of the third inning in a game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor (r.) celebrates with teammate Matt Wieters after Taylor hit a two-run home run during the top of the fifth inning in a Major League Baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets third baseman Wilmer Flores tries to throw out Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner (not pictured) during the top of the sixth inning in a Major League Baseball game at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. Flores committed a throwing error on the play. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner (l.) slides past New York Mets catcher Rene Rivera to score a run during the top of the sixth inning in a Major League Baseball game at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Edgin delivers a pitch during the top of the sixth inning in a Major League Baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy connects on a ball during the top of the sixth inning in a Major League Baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner attempts to make a play on a ball hit by New York Mets second baseman T.J. Rivera during the bottom of the seventh inning in a Major League Baseball game at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson starts to run down the first-base line after grounding a ball to third base during the bottom of the eighth inning in a Major League Baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson runs down the first-base line on a ground ball to third base during the bottom of the eighth inning in a Major League Baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets third baseman Wilmer Flores (r.) connects on a solo home run during the bottom of the eighth inning in a Major League Baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets third baseman Wilmer Flores (r.) steps on home plate after hitting a home run during the bottom of the eighth inning in a Major League Baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Joe Blanton delivers a pitch during the bottom of the ninth inning in a Major League Baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda connects on a ball during the bottom of the ninth inning in a Major League Baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets (06.15.17)

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper gets set to catch a fly ball from the bat of New York Mets pinch hitter Travis d'Arnaud (not pictured) during the bottom of the ninth inning in a Major League Baseball game at Citi Field in Queens on June 15, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)

– by Adesina O. KoikiA Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief

NEW YORK — Once again, Gio Gonzalez took to the mound at Citi Field and turned it into his home away from home. Once again, Daniel Murphy tormented his old employer. Once again, the New York Mets were not able to play nine innings without having another key player suffer a significant injury.

Gonzalez allowed only two earned runs on five hits over seven innings and Murphy added three hits and two runs batted in as the NL East-leading Washington Nationals opened up a four-game series with its closest pursuer in the division with an 8-3 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday night.

The result probably should be of no surprise, especially given who was on the mound for the Nationals. Gonzalez came into tonight’s game sporting a 9-1 record and a 1.62 earned run average in 14 career starts at Citi Field, and, once again, was rarely threatened in his latest outing in Flushing. He took the mound in the bottom of the first already sporting a lead, as Bryce Harper hit a two-out solo home run in the top of the frame off Mets starter Robert Gsellman to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead.

The biggest hit of the contest came from another Nationals’ left-handed hitter, but from the bat of Murphy, the 2015 NLCS MVP while a member of the Mets. With runners on first and third and one out in the fifth, Murphy grounded a ball down the line that went under the glove of first baseman Lucas Duda and into right field for a triple, scoring Brian Goodwin and Ryan Zimmerman to give Washington a 4-1 advantage.

Murphy now owns a .394 lifetime batting average against the Mets, the second-highest average by an opponent against New York with a minimum of 100 at-bats, only trailing Hall of Famer Stan Musial’s .405 clip against the Metropolitans.

One batter later, Anthony Rendon blooped a single into center field to score Murphy. On that play, Mets center fielder Juan Lagares dove head first to try and make the catch, but, in the process, broke his left thumb and had to be removed from the game. Lagares is the latest New York Met regular to go down with a significant injury, and it came off the heels of second baseman Neil Walker having to come out of yesterday’s game against the Cubs with a severe hamstring injury and Matt Harvey leaving the same game with what turned out to be a stress injury in his throwing shoulder.

Before coming out, Lagares probably made the biggest play for the Mets in the contest, throwing out Bryce Harper at home to end the top of the third inning on a single up the middle by Murphy.

*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from tonight’s game, with all photos taken by our senior photographer, Robert Cole. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 34 pictures in total.

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